The Mandate union said workers in Republic of Ireland were unhappy with pay cuts of between 15% and 35%, together with reductions to overtime and to employees' annual bonus, but said Tesco would be able to prevent the strike if it eased off on the changes or came to the Labour Court to discuss the matter.

Gerry Light, Mandate assistant general secretary, said: "Tesco is an extremely profitable employer making more than €200 million in profits in the Republic of Ireland, and now they're attacking the very people who built the company to what it is today."

Tesco said it would look to find a resolution to the dispute and that its stores and online service will open for business on Monday as usual.

"We remain committed to reaching agreement on this issue and earlier this week we formally tabled a generous proposal for compensation for colleagues in scope," a Tesco spokesperson said.

Tesco has previously indicated that 70 percent of staff employed before 1996 had agreed to accept a recent offer of voluntary redundancy. ■